Patient, doctor, big data: Who has the power to define health?

Recommendations to support young clinical researchers

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The SAMS is committed to a good scientific culture and thereby to improving the situation of young researchers. A working group has evaluated the existing instruments for the support of young scientists at university hospitals. The report published today summarizes the recommendations to strengthen and improve the current structures and instruments.

The working group recommends, among other things, the establishment of a web portal offering a direct access to the resources available to young clinical researchers. This portal is to be developed until mid-2020. More information can be found in the recommendations (in German or in French) available on our website.

New recommendations: Ethics training for health professionals

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In daily clinical practice, healthcare professionals are often confronted with ethically challenging situations. The recommendations on ethics training for health professionals reflect the SAMS’ commitment to a successful collaboration when dealing with ethical issues in everyday medical practice.

Ethics education is important in two ways: on the one hand, to ensure that ethically sensitive situations are recognized as such in the first place, and on the other hand, to develop appropriate options for action. The SAMS recommendations describe the contents of a solid ethics education and training and offer a uniform basis for all health professionals. The document can be downloaded in German, French, Italian and English and can also be ordered in printed form (d/f) free of charge.

Patient, doctor, big data. Who has the power of definition?

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At first glance, concepts of health and disease seem to be limited to abstract reflections. Patients and health professionals are, however, tangibly affected. During the workshop «Patient, doctor, big data. Who has the power of definition?», the exchanges were focused on three perspectives on health: health as conceived through scientific data, health as defined by the professionals and health understood as a public good.

Experts from health and science policy discussed whether there’s a need for redefining today's concepts of health and disease to better reflect the age of big data and artificial intelligence. The trilingual workshop report (German, English, French) summarizes the most important results of this day rich in discussions. The brochure can be downloaded; a printed copy can be ordered free of charge.

General Consent for Research: the common model for university hospitals is online

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The General Consent for Research (GCR) allows persons treated in hospitals to consent to the collection and reuse of their data and samples for future research projects. In 2017, the SAMS and the Swiss Ethics Committees (swissethics) published a first harmonized model of the GCR. In the meantime, the five university hospitals have adopted a common model that is now available online.

The harmonized model of the GCR, published today, was developed under the leadership of unimedsuisse (swiss university medicine) and approved and adopted by the five university hospitals as well as the swissethics Executive Committee. It contains understandable information for patients on the use of their data and the protection of their rights. In addition, with the harmonized model of the GCR, researchers are provided with a standard document for multicentre research projects in Switzerland. Other hospitals are encouraged to use this model. The document is available in German, French, Italian and English on the unimedsuisse website (German page).

SPHN strengthens its international collaboration

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The Swiss Personalized Health Network (SPHN) contributes to the development, the implementation and the validation of the infrastructure that is required to make health-related data interoperable and shareable across Switzerland. Two years after its launch, SPHN was selected by the Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) to join an international group of leading initiatives in the field of genomics and personalized health.

The Global Alliance for Genomics and Health (GA4GH) is an international, nonprofit alliance formed to accelerate the potential of research and medicine to advance human health. This new collaboration will allow SPHN to align with GA4GH’s global efforts, contributing to the development of international frameworks and standards. The SPHN initiative, however, remains a national initiative designed to facilitate the exchange of data in Switzerland. More information can be found in the newsletter published today.

The KZS Fund supports three projects on «Coercion in medical practice»

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The 2018 KZS Fund call for proposals focused on the topic of «Coercion in medical practice». Out of the 27 submitted applications, three were retained for funding.

The SAMS supports research projects in biomedical ethics with resources from the KZS- Fund. In 2018, a total of 250'000 Swiss francs was available to support research projects investigating the topic of «Coercion in medical practice». 27 applications were submitted until the deadline of 15 August 2018. At the end of a careful evaluation process, the KZS Expert Committee selected three projects for funding. The synopsis below (pdf) offers an overview of all supported projects by the KZS Fund.

Cochrane Library answers your questions on health care

With the national licence for the Cochrane Library, health professionals and the Swiss population have free access to a quality and validated source of information on medical issues and health care.

For over 25 years, the Cochrane network has been producing systematic reviews to summarize research findings in the field of medical care. Each review allows you to quickly form an opinion on a specific question, without having to read all related studies. The reviews are regularly updated and reflect the current state of knowledge. Since 2016, the national licence for the Cochrane Library has been funded by the SAMS, the Federal Office of Public Health, as well as university libraries and hospitals. Take the opportunity to visit the Cochrane Library, when a next question related to health or medical care arises.

Thirteen grants for «Young Talents in Clinical Research»

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In 2017, the Gottfried and Julia Bangerter-Rhyner Foundation and the SAMS jointly launched the «Young Talents in Clinical Research» program to support doctors venturing into clinical research. 13 grants have been awarded among the 42 proposals submitted for this second call.

The Bangerter Foundation provides 1 million francs each year until 2020 to support young doctors making their first steps in clinical research and ensure a well-trained next generation of physician scientists. You will find the list of grantees in the synopsis below.